If you received a traffic ticket and you feel that it was issued in error, then we encourage you to set up a hearing before a judge. To do this, do not pay the traffic ticket, the court will automatically mail you a court date within 30 days. Neither the Sheriff or his designees will void out a ticket after a Deputy issued it to you. This would be a violation of Maryland Law. If you feel that you were issued a ticket in error, or that you did not deserve said ticket, please wait till trial for you to make your case. Please be advised that if you plead NOT GUILTY at the time of your trial, under Maryland Law, any citation issued to you has a maximum fine of $500 if found guilty; unless the fine for the ticket is greater. Please make sure that you can prove your case prior to making this decision.

Call the Sheriff's Office's non-emergency number at 410-479-2515, and advise the dispatcher of the location and description of the vehicle. The factors that we use to clasify an abandoned vehicle is:

The vehicle is both INOPERABLE and left unattended on PUBLIC PROPERTY for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours, or;

The vehicle has remained ILLEGALLY on public property for a period of forty-eight (48) consecutive hours, or;

The vehicle does not have a VALID registration, license plate and has been left unattended on, or along, a public highway, or;

The vehicle has remained on PRIVATE PROPERTY without the consent of the property owner or person in control of the property for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours.

After we receive your report and confirm the information, we are required by law to contact the vehicle's owner, inform them that their vehicle is considered abandoned, and provide them with two (2) days (48 hours) to remove the automobile from the highway before we are authorized to tow it. If, following the 2-day waiting period, the owner has not brought their vehicle into compliance with the law, the Sheriff's Office will make arrangements to have the vehicle removed.

The Sheriffs Office uses private tow companies for the purpose of removing abandoned automobiles. Once the 2-day waiting period has lapsed, tow companies are given towing orders for automobiles that are still in violation.

These vehicles are subsequently towed by these tow companies as their schedule permits.

You can report traffic-related problems in your neighborhood by calling 410-479-2515. Please provide information to the dispatcher about the location, nature of the problem, when it occurs, description of the vehicle involved (Tag number is best case), and whether you would like to have a Deputy call you back. The problem will be forwarded to the appropriate unit for response and action.